20 Irrefutable Myths About Symptoms Alcohol Detox: Busted
Alcohol Detox Symptoms
Many who drink a lot experience withdrawal symptoms when they cut down or completely stop drinking. These symptoms may vary from mild to severe and include sweating and tremors nausea, anxiety vomiting, or even seizures.
If you suffer from moderate to severe symptoms, a medically monitored detoxification is advised. This helps ensure that symptoms don't escalate into seizures, high fevers or DTs.
1. Headaches
Heavy drinkers are more likely to suffer headaches and migraines. The severity of withdrawal symptoms can vary based on the duration and severity alcohol addiction as well as co-occurring disorders and detox medications that are used during detox.
The headaches associated with alcohol withdrawal typically begin within six hours of your last drink. This first phase can last for a few days and symptoms peaking around 48 hours after you have stopped drinking.
At New Horizon, our staff will help you manage these withdrawal symptoms, and will provide advice on the intake of fluids and nutrition. The more hydrated you are, the less likely it is that you will experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
As you progress through the withdrawal process your brain will gradually begin to restore its normal neurochemical production. This can take a week or more. However, you may notice a relapse of your old habits, and an increased risk of drinking again and trigger these withdrawal symptoms. It is also possible for withdrawal symptoms to recur after you've gotten accustomed to sobriety, in this the situation is known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). These withdrawal symptoms can last for up to a year, based on your level of addiction to alcohol. They can be accompanied by anxiety, insomnia and sluggish reflexes. It can be difficult to deal with however the benefits are much more than the negative effects.
2. Nausea
There is a possibility of experiencing nausea and vomiting at various levels, based on the severity of alcohol dependence and how long you've been drinking. Alcohol can exert a strong influence on the stomach, and when it is removed and your body is experiencing withdrawal symptoms which affect the entire digestive tract. It is usually accompanied by diarrhea that could be uncomfortable and even dangerous in the event of dehydration.
If you stop drinking, your brain produces less GABA and more glutamate to try to compensate. This can result in an imbalance of neurotransmitters which can make you feel anxious and jumpy. This can cause shaking, particularly in your hands, and could cause you to crave alcohol. All of these symptoms are indicators of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. This is a medical condition that requires hospital treatment.
Alcohol detox is a difficult and risky process. However, it's necessary to recover from alcohol dependence. Contact New Horizon to speak to an addiction counselor to determine if your nausea or vomiting is related to alcohol consumption or if it might be due to medical conditions.
Nausea and vomiting are the most frequently experienced within the first 24 hours of withdrawal from alcohol. During detox from alcohol , avoid eating greasy or fatty foods and stick to the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). If nausea becomes very severe, you can refresh yourself with electrolyte drinks or water. If you need to, you may also take anti-nausea medication such as Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate.
3. Vomiting
Alcohol can cause gastrointestinal issues, which can manifest as nausea and vomit. This can happen when your body adjusts to the absence of alcohol and detoxifies. This can last for a few days and could need to be controlled with medication. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent blood sugar spikes and dehydration which can cause more symptoms.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can include hallucinations as well as seizures. These usually start within 12 to 24 hours of your last drink and can cause you to hear, see or feel things that are not there. Seizures could be an indication of severe alcohol withdrawal and can be life-threatening without medical intervention.
You'll likely have to be monitored closely by a medical professional during your withdrawal and detox. They will check for symptoms of fever, rapid heart rate, and dehydration to assess the severity of your withdrawal symptoms. They may prescribe medication to help ease the pain of your symptoms, and also prevent seizures, if needed.
Medical professionals will create an environment that is secure and comfortable for you during your withdrawal treatment to limit the chance of having seizures and other life-threatening symptoms. They can assist you with managing the withdrawal symptoms, and offer you the tools to prevent the relapse. Alcohol detox and treatment allows your brain chemistry and alcohol levels to be restored to normal.
4. Diarrhea
Alcohol addiction can affect the digestive system, causing diarrhoea. This is a sign of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. It occurs when people stop drinking alcohol or drastically reduce their consumption. Other withdrawal symptoms include nausea, tremors, and vomiting.
Diarrhoea may last for a few days, or even weeks, depending on the severity of the condition. Drinking lots of water or eating plenty of fibre may help to alleviate this problem, since it reduces the amount of liquid in the colon.
Alcohol causes the stomach to produce more acid to aid digestion, and this can also irritate the digestive tract. Drinking a lot of wine can be more prone to creating this issue due to the high concentration of tannins in the grapes used to make it.
It is crucial for those who are going through an alcohol detox to rest well and drink fluids in order to keep hydrated. This can reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Having access to medical care can be beneficial in the case of complications like seizures that can happen when undergoing withdrawal from alcohol.
After the first 24 hours, withdrawal symptoms caused by alcohol are less severe. This does not mean the detox process is over. There are still many symptoms, such as migraine headaches that are to be endured.
5. Tremors
Although they're not as common as the other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal Tremors are a common occurrence in some people who are detoxing. They're usually an indication of severe withdrawal and are more likely to occur in males. If you experience tremors as part of your detox, it's important to seek medical help immediately. If untreated, tremors can lead to heart attacks and seizures.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant meaning that it suppresses the excitatory chemicals within the brain. When you quit drinking the body's natural excitatory chemicals become overexcited, which can trigger several withdrawal symptoms, including shaking. This is the reason you should never attempt to stop drinking alcohol on your own without an expert's guidance.

The severity of withdrawal symptoms varies on how much alcohol you've consumed and your body's tolerance. Mild symptoms typically start around two hours after your last drink and may include anxiety, irritability and sweating. These symptoms should peak within 48 hours, and then diminish. The withdrawal symptoms that are severe can include shaking and confusion. These symptoms can be hazardous and can result in aspiration pneumonitis extreme instances.
During alcohol detox, you'll receive medications to help treat withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines, commonly known as benzos, are among the most well-known and used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, insomnia and other withdrawal symptoms. The most commonly prescribed benzos are chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and diazepam (Valium). If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, seek immediate treatment from a professional.
6. Insomnia
It can be difficult to get a good night's sleep without alcohol if you are used to drinking it. You can get rid of insomnia during detoxification and get a good sleep by implementing a few simple practices.
A good night's rest is essential to your physical and mental well-being. Insomnia can affect your ability to focus, feel calm, and perform normal throughout the day. It can also affect your mood and make it difficult to live a life of sobriety.
Sleep problems are common among those who are recovering from alcoholism. In fact, they are a major reason for people to relapse in the first stages of recovery. Sleep problems can last for weeks or months, even though withdrawal symptoms like shaking, sweating, and nausea tend to diminish with time.
Insomnia during alcohol withdrawal isn't just frustrating but can also result in a myriad of other symptoms, including irritability and anxiety. This is the reason it's so important to treat this symptom with an alcohol detox program that is medically supervised.
Ambien is a sleeping pill that is widely used in many detox programs that are medically assisted. Ambien is a well-known sleeping pill that's part of numerous detox programs that are medically assisted. It is safe to use during your detox since it does not mix with alcohol. The sleep aid will promote an improved night's sleep and enhance your overall quality of life during your alcohol detox.